Although the Libertarian Party didn’t elect any legislators in 2024, five of its nominees polled over 35% of the total vote. All of them were in two-person races. They were Scott Kohlhaas in Alaska, Michael White in Arkansas, Jake Heard in Iowa, Robert Thomas in Kansas, and Sean Moore in Nevada.
On January 16, the U.S. Supreme Court asked for a response in Meadors v Erie County Board of Elections, 24-684. This is the challenge to the May petition deadline in New York for independent candidates and the nominees of unqualified parties. The Court asked for a response just two days after the defendant had said it didn’t plan to respond.
This is the second case related to minor parties and independent candidates in which the Court has asked for a response. The other, ironically, is also from New York, and concerns a discriminatory campaign finance law, which lets individuals give more to Democratic and Republican candidates than other candidates.
At the November 2024 election, three independent candidates polled over 40% of the vote for Utah legislature. No one other than Republican or Democratic nominees has been elected to the Utah legislature since 1956.
In the State Senate election for district 16, in Salt Lake County, Monnica Manuel polled 42.53% against a Republican.
In the State House election for district 3, in Cache County, Patrick Belmont polled 45.98% against a Republican.
In the State House election for district 39, in Salt Lake County, Jessica Wignall polled 44.70% against a Republican.
There had been a strong campaign to elect an independent to the Utah legislature in 2024. See this story.
In 1956, independent legislative candidate Clarence Albrecht had been elected to the State House.
On January 14, protestors held a vigil outside the North Carolina Supreme Court, to express their fears that the Court might reverse the election results for Justice of the Supreme Court, from last year’s election. See this story.
The New Jersey Senate considered S3994 on Tuesday, January 14, but it did not pass it that day. Instead it amended the bill so that it can take effect for the 2025 election. New Jersey has elections for Governor and legislature in 2025 and the original bill, combined with its slow progress, would not have taken effect for the 2025 election.
The bill will probably get a Senate vote in the next few weeks. It raises the number of signatures for both primary candidates and general election candidates. See this story.
